How is a dermoid cyst diagnosed?

How is a dermoid cyst diagnosed?

To help diagnose you or your child’s condition, your healthcare provider will ask about symptoms. Your provider can diagnose a dermoid cyst in different ways depending on the cyst’s location:

• Physical exam: If the cyst is close to your skin’s surface, your provider can examine the cyst and the area around it.
• CT (computed tomography) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): These noninvasive tests show your provider images of the cyst. These tests can show if the cyst is near a sensitive area, such as a carotid artery. They can also see if a spinal dermoid cyst may be near a nerve.
• Pelvic ultrasound or transvaginal ultrasound: Your provider uses painless sound waves to see images of an ovarian dermoid cyst. During a pelvic ultrasound, your provider applies a probe against your skin. During a transvaginal ultrasound, your provider inserts a wand into your vagina.